Cloth-cutter.



mi 683,538. Patented Oct. I, 1901.- E. B. wlLLcox & E. E.-TEBBUSH.

CLOTH CUTTER.

(Application mu Doc- 3, 1900.) v (No lodal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 683,538.. Patente d 0ct. l, l90l.

E. B. WILLCOX 8:, E. E. TERBUSH. CLOTH CUTTER.

(Application filed Dec. 3, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shoot 2.

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m: NORRIS PETER! co Pmwouwu WASH No. 683,538. I V S Patented Oc t. 1901. E. n. wlLLcox & a. E. TEBBUSH. v

CLOTH BUTTER.

(Application filed. Dec. 8, 1900.] I (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- WITNESSES: INVENTORS.

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STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER R. WVILLOOX AND ELMER E. TERBUSH, OF PEEKSKILL, NEIV YORK.

CLOTH-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 683,538, dated October 1 1901.

Application filed December 3, 1900. Serial No. 38,587. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELMER R. WILLooX and ELMER E.TERBUSH,citizens of the United States, and residents of Peekskill, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cloth-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to means for cutting cloth in manifold thicknesses, and has for its particular object the making of straight cuts, whereby pieces of any width may be cut with rapidity and precision and whereby angular cuts may be made with the same facility. The objects are attained by the means set forth in this specification and the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters and numerals refer to like parts in the several views.

Figure I represents the cloth-cutting machine in elevation as it appears when in action. Fig. II is a side elevation showing the knife or front side of the machine. Fig. III is an enlarged side elevation of the lower half of the machine, the reverse from the side shown in Fig. II. Fig. III shows the machine adjusted for deep cutting, and Fig. III represents the machine set for shallow cutting. Fig. IV is the plan of a track upon which the cutting-machine travels. Fig. V is an end view of the track. Fig. VI is an end view of the gage-clamp. Fig. VII indicates the method of moving the track. Fig. VIII is a plan of one of the rollers employed to facilitate moving the track. Figs. IX and X representa stop-flange secured to the under side of the track to rest against the edge of the cutting-table. Figs. XI and XII are views of an adjustable stop with a clamp for securing the track to the cutting-table. Fig. XIII represents a track to form an angle of forty-five degrees with the edge of the table for the cutting of bias strips. Fig. XIV is a detail belonging to the previous figure, showing how the roller 13 should be applied to the front end of the bias frame. Fig. XV is an elevation of the front end of Fig. XIII.

The apparatus we shall describe is intended particularly for the cutting of cloth into strips. The cloth being piled in many thicknesses upon a cutting-table, we have a frame, or track, as We shall call it herein, adapted to be moved over the surface of the cloth, and

the machine travels over this frame. The track is provided with gages, and after a cut is made the track, with the cutting-machine tem aining on it, is moved along over the cloth ro the cutting-point indicated by the gages.

Our apparatus is represented in elevation in Fig. I, the machine resting on the track, which is lying on a pile of cloth 0, spread upon the table T. If in motion, the machine as represented would be moving toward the observer.

The machine, which is manipulated by a handle h, Fig. II, is combined with an ironclad electric motor, a section of its casing Z) being cutaway, revealing the field-magnetm, the field-coils n, and the armature a. A gearpinion c on the armature shaft through a fiberite intermediate wheel (1 drives the pinion 6, which is fast to the rotary cutter-spindle i. Fiberite is used for the intermediate wheel to render the gears noiseless. The cutting-spindle t' and the intermediate wheel are supported on a frame g, which is secured to the motor-casing by the boltsjj. The rotary cutter Z is held on the spindle 2' in the usual manner by the collar 1' and nut f.

The cutting-machine is supported on four rollers and is adapted to travel on the track 1; u 20, Fig. I. The track consists of two bars 1; u, united at their ends by cross-bars to, Figs. I and IV. The bar 12 is a broad flat thin plate, preferably, although not necessarily, having more or less flexibility in the direction of its length. The bar to is made angular, as shown, in order to obtain some stiffness without excessive weight. The vertical flange of this bar constitutes the guide-rail for the machine, and the rollers on one side of the machine are flanged, so they will keep to the rail, as shown at r 1", Figs. I, III, and IV. The rollers on the other side of the machine have flat faces and travel upon the fiat bar 0, as shown at y y, Figs. I, II, and IV. hen the track is laid upon a pile of cloth, the flanged track serves as a support and guide for the machine, while the flexible bare will yield to any unevenness that may. occur in the cloth. The advance roller 1 is made nearly as wide as the plate, so as to prevent any sidewise tilting of the plate, and as the outer edge of the plate lies quite close to the cutter Z the weight of the machine upon the v and III".

plate causes it to compress the goods compactly at the cutting-point. The m achine is not secured to the frame or track in any manner. Current is conveyed to the motor by means of a flexible cord.

Varying depths of cut may be made with this machine by the employment of cutters of varying diameters; but a cutter of large diameter will require more power than a small one, so we adopt a diameter of cutter adapted to the deepest cutting and at the same time to the highest efficiency of the motor employed. Then in order to vary the depth of cuts we resort to the expedient of tipping the machine, as shown in Fig. III, which represents the side of the machine opposite to that in Fig. II. The forward rollers r and 'y, Figs. I and II, are journaled to a frame 7., Figs. I, II, III, and III", that is pivoted to a motor at s s, so that the centers of the journals of the rollers r and y and the centers of the pivots s 8 may be maintained in the same vertical plane at right angles to the track. This is necessary by reason of the surface of the rail it having an elevation above the surface of the plate e. In order to accomplish this, a threaded sector 2%", Figs. I and III, is attached to the frame if. A slotted piece 2, fast to the motor-casing, spans the threaded portion of the sector, and checknuts 3 3 secure it rigidly in any position to which it may be adjusted. The rear rollers r r are not fastened directly to the motor, but are held to slotted arms at n by means of studs 6 at, respectively. The slotted arms are then held to the sides of the machine by the bolts 00', as shown more clearly in Figs. III It will be seen that the range of vertical adjustment of the rear end of the machine by means of the slotted arms will almost equal the distance from the face of the pinion e to the periphery of the cutter Z. The machine is now used for cutting through from ninety-six to two hundred thicknesses of cloth. A close adjustment of the depth of cut is important, as if the cutter should strike deep in the table power would be rapidly consumed. There are of course numerous ways by which the tipping of the machine may be accomplished more speedily than by the method described. We have simply shown one of the easiest means of attaining the object.

Fig. IV is a plan of the track shown in position on a bed of cloth to be out. T represents the table; 0, the cloth; at w, the track, and D the cutting-machine. The machine is in position for beginning a cut. 10 ll 10 11 are gages attached to the ends of the track, the blades 10 10 having some length, owing to the necessity of keeping the gage-rods 11 11 away from the revolving cutter Z. The gagerods are held with thumb-screws 8 in perforated blocks 7, as shown in Figs. VI and VII.

To facilitate moving the track and to cause both ends to move equal distances, arms 12 12 are attached to the angular rail u, as shown in Figs. IV, V, VII, VIII, and XIV.

The arms are of equal lengths and at the ends are provided with rollers 13 13', which traverse the edge of the table on each side of the cloth. When the track is in position for using the machine, the rollers clear the table, as shown in Fig. V. When it is desired to moved the track, it is tipped and lifted in direction of the rollers, as in Fig. VII, and is easily moved bodily to a new position. The change of position is easily made without removing the machine from the track, the operator easily retaining it in place by dividing the grip of his hands between the machine and the track.

To aid in sustaining the weight of the machine when it is at the starting end of the track, when the part of the track it occupies projects beyond the supporting-cloth, as represented in Fig. IV, a' bracket-flange 14 is attached to the under side of the frame, preferably to the end piece 10, in such position that it impinges against the edge of the table, as in Figs. IX and X. The frame or track being long, its weight serves as a partial counterbalance to the weight on it of the machine, and the support added by the flange described is complete. This flange may be adjustable, as shown in Fig. X. The flange also serves to prevent any movement of the track forward when the machine is in operation.

"When it is needful to secure the track to the table, it is done by the means shown in Figs. XI and XII. The adjustable flange 14 is adjustably attached to a clamp 15, which is held to the table by a screw, as shown.

For cutting cloth into bias strips and pieces a track is constructed, as shown in Fig. XIII. It is in essential particulars the same as the one described, except that all the attachments are secured to it at an angle of forty-five degrees, and a flange to abut against the edge of the table is fixed to each end of the track, so that when the flanges are in their respective positions the track lies at an angle of forty-five degrees with the selvage edges of the cloth to be out. At 16 16 angle-plates are represented, by which the flanges lat 14 are secured to the track. In this figure, T represents the table, 0 the cloth to be cut, and c a strip that has been cut, and the track is shown in position for another cut the width of c. Fig. XIV is introduced because of the lack of space on the sheet to show how the moving roller 13 requires to be attached to this form of track. Fig. XV is an elevation of the lower end of the track as represented in Fig. XIII.

In Fig. IV, T represents the table; 0, the cloth to be cut; 0, a Width that has been cut. The gages 1O 10 are in position for another cut, and the operator has only to push the machine to the opposite end of the frame and back again to complete a cut. Any width of strips and any angle of straight cutting may be cut by means of this machine and the tracks shown. It is plain that almost IIO any machine-cutter that may be adapted to move upon a guiding-track may be employed for this manner of cutting, so that we do not wish to be limited to the form of motor or machine here shown. Neither do we wish to be limited to electric power.

We claim the privilege of varying the constructions herein shown, so long as we do not depart from the principles of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination of a cloth-cutting ma chine, and a track for said machine comprising a guiding-rail and a flexible rail, the machine having rollers on one side adapted to keep it to the guiding-rail, and flat-faced rollers on the other side to travel on the flexible rail, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of a cloth-cutting machine and a track, said track comprising an angular rail and a flexible rail secured by end pieces parallel with one another, the machine having on one side guiding-rollers to keep it to the angular rail and on the other side flat rollers that press the flexible rail close upon the cloth at the cutting-point, and gages adjustably attached to the track, substantially as shown and described.

3. In the combination of a cloth-cutting machine and a track for the purpose described, the cutting-machine adapted to be raised and lowered at one end by means of slotted roller-carriers substantially as herein set forth.

4. In the combination of a cloth-cutting machine and a track for the purposes set forth means for tipping the cutting-machine comprising a frame carrying the rollers under one end of the machine pivoted to the machine and held in position by a thread ed sector with check-nuts and a stop fast to the machine, and the rollers on the other end of the machine adapted to be raised and lowered, substantially as herein set forth.

5. In combination with a cloth-cutting machine and a track as set forth the track provided with a flange-stop at the end to abut against the edge of the cutting-table, substantially as shown.

6. In the combination with a cloth-cutting machine and a track as set forth herein the track provided with an adjustable flange for abutment against the cutting-table, adj ustably connected with a table-clamp, substantially as herein shown.

7. A track for use with a cloth-cutting machine comprising a guiding-rail and a flexible rail united at their ends, gage-clamps secured to the track out of range of the cutter, a gage at each end of the frame, arms projecting from one side of the track and provided with rollers to facilitate moving the track, and a stop at the end of the track for abutment against the edge of the table, all substantially as herein shown and described.

8. In the combination of a cloth-cutting machine and a track, arms carrying rollers secured to each end of the track, the rollers adapted for contact with the table on each side of the cloth to be out only when the track is moved, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In the combination of a cloth-cutting machine and a track for the purposes set forth a track adapted for use at an angle with the sides of the cutting-table, the track having flanges at each end for abutment against the table, its gages parallel with the rails of the track and the gage-rods parallel with the edges of the table, substantially as shown and described.

10. In the combination of a cloth-cutting machine and a track with a flexible rail, a wide-faced roller on the corner of the machine in advance of the cutting-point of the cutter substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In combination with a cloth-cutting table and a cloth-cutting machine, a movable track having a machine-guiding rail and a flexible rail united to supports to rest upon the edges of the table, the said rails lying upon the cloth to be cut, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Peekskill, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, this 24th day of November, A. D. 1900.

. ELMER R. WILLCOX. ELMER E. TERBUSH. Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. DAYTON, JAMES DIMOND. 

